Luke Hancock shoots during the second half of the 2013 NCAA men's championship game. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

ATLANTA -- Much like in the national semifinals against Wichita State, Louisville faced a 12-point deficit in the national title game Monday night and needed an immediate spark.

Leave it to reserve Luke Hancock, the George Mason transfer who also provided a late-game scoring surge against the Shockers, to step forward to try to match Michigan's unlikely offensive catalyst, Spike Albrecht, shot for shot.

With the backcourt tandem of Russ Smith and Peyton Siva struggling mightily shooting the ball in the first half, coach Rick Pitino had faith in Hancock because he considers him among the most clutch players on the team.

He quickly changed the tenor of the game by making all four of his first-half three-point attempts in the final three minutes before halftime, all but erasing the double-digit deficit.

Hancock was named Most Outstanding Player -- the first time a non-starter has received that honor in the NCAA tournament's history, which dates to 1939. He tied a career-high with 22 points in Louisville's 82-76 win.

"You know we just had to stop No. 11," said Michigan freshman Glenn Robinson III, on the end of the first half. "He had the hot hand. We needed to find any way we could to stop him and I thought that he did a great job of coming off those screens and making it tough on our defense."

In seeing Hancock battle through shoulder injuries and from talking to former George Mason coach Jim Larranaga, Pitino has long known all about Hancock's will to win. Though Hancock is a reserve, Pitino said he is one of the best offensive players on the team, a junior who exhibits such strong leadership that he was named captain before he even played a game.

For Hancock, Monday night was a chance to shine in front of his family, including his father who is ill.

"I'm so excited for this team to be in this situation. It's been a long road," Hancock said. "There's really no way to describe how I feel that my dad was here. It's hard to put into words. I'm so excited that he was here, it just means a lot."

Smith and Siva were virtually non-factors early as the Wolverines built a double-digit lead. But with 2:59 to play in the half, Hancock made his first three-pointer to give the Cardinals some life.

Then during a 45-second span, Hancock made two more, finding himself surprisingly open each time. With one minute left in the half, Hancock made his fourth three-pointer, slicing the deficit to one point. And 38 seconds later, the Cardinals were in front after Siva threw up an alley-oop pass to Montrezl Harrell for a dunk.

"I just try to play off Russ (Smith) and Peyton (Siva), and Wayne (Blackshear) today," Hancock said. "They're so good at getting you open shots. Gorgui (Dieng) found me for a couple of those.

"But I just tried to play with them. They're the guys who are usually scoring all the points. If I can step in and hit an open shot, or just help out, I do. Russ and Peyton lead the show, and I just try to play off of them."

At halftime, Jalen Rose, a member of Michigan's famed Fab Five, said, "All we need to do is find Hancock! Get a hand in his face."

A moment of anxiety for Louisville fans occurred early in the second half, when Hancock picked up his third foul with 18:32 left in the game. But he managed to avoid fouling out. And though he was quiet most of the second half, as Siva and others began to find their offensive rhythm, he would have one last moment.

With 3:27 to play in the game, Hancock made another three-pointer, this one from the corner to put the Cardinals up 10 points. He punctuated the outside shot with a fist pump.

After making several key shots down the stretch in the Wichita State game, Hancock played a key role against the Wolverines, abruptly changing the game's momentum and helping to lead the Cardinals to their first national title since 1986.